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09th May 2022

Public transport fares for young people reduced by 50% as of today

Hugh Carr

young adult leap card

You may have to get a new Leap Card to avail of the offer, however.

In a bid to encourage young people to use public transport, a 50% reduction in fares has been implemented as of today (Monday, 9 May).

The new fares apply to all subsidised journeys, which includes Dublin Bus, Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, Luas, Go-Ahead Ireland and Local Link.

All adults aged 19 to 23 are eligible for the fares, until the day before they turn 24.

If you own a Student Leap Card, you will already see the reductions apply to your card as of today.

However, non-students within the age bracket will need to apply for a Young Adult Leap Card, which you can do so here.

There is no change in cost, however, to those who use a Child Leap Card, which is used by travellers aged under 19.

“When I announced a permanent 50% fare reduction for young adults in Budget 2022, I really wanted to make public transport more attractive for young people, so that using public transport could become a habit of a lifetime,” said Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan.

“I also wanted to go some way to supporting young people, by making day-to-day life a little bit more affordable.

“This fare cut is unprecedented and quite radical.

“But I believe strongly that it’s the way we need to go if we are serious about putting low-carbon transport at the heart of our efforts to build a sustainable future and if we want to bring people, and particularly young people, with us on that journey.”

Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority, said that the reductions will be felt particularly outside of Dublin.

“With the TFI 90-minute fare coming down to €1 in Dublin, and the standard single fare for young adults and students coming down to €0.65 in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford, we look forward to seeing more young adults using public transport to get to work or college or just when getting out and about with their friends and family,” Graham said.

“There’s particularly good news for rail commuters in Cork with Mallow being brought into the commuter rail fares area in Cork.

“This means that a student or young adult can travel from Mallow to any station within the Cork commuter area for just €1.95 when paying with Leap.

“Value for money is not the only factor that gets people on to public transport, but it is an important one, and we do know that cutting fares to such an extent will make public transport more attractive to more young adults.

“I’d like to thank my NTA colleagues and all the operators for the work they have put in to make this a reality.

“This is particularly the case for the Young Adult Card scheme that has essentially been designed from scratch and fully implemented within a matter of a few months.

“We’re appreciative of the support that the Government has given us, that has enabled us to make public transport even more affordable.”

All fares across the country have been reduced by 20% as part of a Government package across the country to reduce the cost of living.

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